Two-thirds of the population of the Manus Island centre are now refusing food as detainees grow increasingly desperate to avoid the Australian government's plan to resettle them in PNG, which is expected to begin this week.

Mr Dutton also denied claims that the water in the centre had been "cut off", but said protesters were preventing the delivery of food, water and medical services.

Refugee advocates had reported that the water in the Delta compound had been completely cut off, forcing asylum seekers to drink from drains.

It is believed a number of asylum seekers have barricaded themselves inside their compounds as part of the protest.

Fairfax Media has also confirmed a number of protesting asylum seekers were on the weekend taken to the centre's Chauka compound - a smaller compound used to discipline asylum seekers acting aggressively.

Mr Dutton's statement came as the Papua New Guinea government also released a statement on the situation, denying local police stormed the Manus Island detention centre on the weekend.

On Monday morning, PNG's Immigration Minister, Rimbink Pato, confirmed that protesting asylum seekers on the island had sewn their lips together, swallowed razor blades and had also started swallowing washing powder.

But Mr Pato said reports that the local police had entered the facility at the weekend were false.

"Despite claims by agitator groups in Australia, at no time have police been called upon to enter the facility," the minister said in a statement.

"Each case of self-harm is being investigated by medical personnel and appropriate action is being offered to the individuals concerned."

In a letter obtained by Fairfax Media, asylum seekers from the Foxtrot compound wrote to Mr Dutton saying: "If you do not wish us to come to Australia, then that's ok. It's your country. But it does not mean you have the right to settle us in PNG."

Many of them have been imprisoned in the centre for more than 18 months, the letter said.

"We are not toys for you to play with and not animals to imprison us here.

"If you send us back to where you found us, it is better for us to live with sharks and sea whales than to stay one more day with inhumane people.

"We can say that when we woke up today, we are resolved to die here in order to bring back our dignity and our freedom."

Labor's acting spokeswoman for immigration Amanda Rishworth said the party had "serious concerns" about the developing protest.

"The Australian people deserve to know exactly what is happening at the Australian-funded facility," Ms Rishworth said

"The lack of information coming from Peter Dutton is unacceptable. We simply must have the full facts of what is going on at the Manus Regional Processing Centre."

The Greens' immigration spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young called for the government to use mediators in the centre, to help calm the situation.